GET A FIRST LOOK AT MARVEL'S COMICS GIVEAWAY DAY™ TITLES INCLUDING LEAD-IN STORIES FOR ARMAGEDDON, QUEEN IN BLACK AND MORE!
On May 2, celebrate Comics Giveaway Day™ at your local comic shop with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026; ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026; ALIEN, PREDATOR, & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026; and SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026.
New York, NY— January 30, 2026 — Announced last month by Penguin Random House, Comics Giveaway Day™, the day that gives participating comic book shops a chance to hand out special Comics Giveaway Day™ issues to visitors free of charge, will be held on May 2. Marvel Comics will publish four Comics Giveaway Day™ titles: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026, ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026, ALIEN, PREDATOR & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026, and SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD.
Today, fans can get a sneak peek at artwork from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026 and ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026, which will prepare readers for the year’s most anticipated stories: ARMAGEDDON, the epic summer event from writer Chip Zdarsky; QUEEN IN BLACK, an upcoming symbiote event spinning out of Al Ewing’s work on Venom; the yet-to-be-announced next X-Men milestone; AND the historic AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000! The issues will also include stories tied to Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein’s Infernal Hulk and reveal what’s next for Doctor Doom.
Also available, don’t miss ALIEN, PREDATOR & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026, spotlighting Marvel’s acclaimed 20th Century Studios storytelling with new stories set in some of the world’s most iconic sci-fi franchises. And for little ones, SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026 provides the best first comic book experience you can get with a Spidey & his Amazing Friends adventure guest starring Jeff the Land Shark and Symbie!
Read on to learn more!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026
Written by JOE KELLY, AL EWING & PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by JOHN ROMITA JR., IBAN COELLO & NIC KLEIN
Cover by DIKE RUAN
The road to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 takes a big turn here as fate bears down on Peter Parker! The Queen in Black has been coronated, and Mary Jane Watson as Venom is not ready for her! The Eldest has taken control of the Hulk, and what happens next will make every past Hulk battle look like a skirmish!
ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY, JED MACKAY & RYAN NORTH
Art by FEDERICO VICENTINI, FRANK ALPIZAR & DELIO DIAZ, & FRANCESCO MOBILI
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
The heroes of the Marvel Universe assemble to take on the Red Hulk in a critical story by Chip Zdarsky that sets the stage for this summer’s Marvel event…ARMAGEDDON! Armageddon is here, and no one is safe from the coming end.
PLUS: Your first look at this summer’s big X-MEN event…and DOOM!
ALIEN, PREDATOR & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026
Written by SALADIN AHMED, JORDAN MORRIS & GREG PAK
Art by ROLAND BOSCHI, EMILIO LAISO & ALAN ROBINSON
Cover by DAVIDE PARATORE
In this issue, you’ll find stories from across 20th Century Studios – from ALIEN to PREDATOR to PLANET OF THE APES! Saladin Ahmed presents a tale set on a planet that’s already succumbed to Xenomorphs! And in Jordan Morris’ story, a Yautja warrior stalks one of Earth’s greatest fighters.
All this and a return to the Planet of the Apes!
SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026
Written by DANIELLE KREGER
Art by GOODMAN YAMADA
Cover by PACO MEDINA
SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, Spin and Ghost-Spider, think they have their web-shooting hands full when JEFF THE LAND SHARK pays them a visit! But they haven’t seen anything yet – because shapeshifting alien SYMBIE is here to turn Jeff’s world upside down!
SKYBOUND, IMAGE & HASBRO ANNOUNCE ENERGON UNIVERSE SPECIAL 2026 FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
Featuring All-New Stories from TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, Void Rivals and MORE!
LOS ANGELES 01/08/2026 — Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, announced that they will publish an Energon Universe Special 2026 for Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 2, 2026. In celebration of the power of comic books, this special serves as a perfect jumping-in point for new readers and a can’t-miss story for longtime fans, with major moments in store.
The biggest year in Energon Universe history is here, with four all-new stories from the worlds of TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, Void Rivals, and more in this Free Comic Book Day issue from the biggest names in comics. Energon Universe talent Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), Joshua Williamson (Duke, Superman), and more pen the stories, and Jason Howard (TRANSFORMERS, Super Dinosaur), Conor Hughes (Void Rivals, White Ash), and more will provide art.
"Free Comic Book Day is such an exciting holiday every year,” opines Executive Editor Ben Abernathy. “To have FOUR exciting stories by some of the best creators in the business is a dream come true!”
The Energon Universe is the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Energon Universe titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer/creator Robert Kirkman, artist Andrei Bressan (Destro), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country); the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Kirkman, artist Dan Mora (Justice League Unlimited), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater); and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson, artist Tom Reilly (Duke), and Eisner Award-winning colorist Jordie Bellaire (Absolute Wonder Woman). Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.
For more information on Free Comic Book Day, please visit freecomicbookday.com.
MARVEL'S COMICS GIVEAWAY DAY™ TITLES GIVE READERS A CHANCE TO DIVE INTO ARMAGEDDON, QUEEN IN BLACK AND MORE!
Learn about the four Marvel Comics Giveaway Day™ titles available at your local comic shop on May 2 including lead-in stories to next year’s biggest stories and events!
New York, NY— December 16, 2025 — 2026 is shaping up to be an outstanding year in the Marvel Universe with epic events, historic milestones, and exciting new launches, and you can dive right into it all with upcoming Comics Giveaway Day™ titles!
Announced earlier today by Penguin Random House, Comics Giveaway Day™ will be held on May 2. Participating comic book shops will be able to give special Comics Giveaway Day™ issues to visitors free of charge, gearing them up for some of the year’s most anticipated stories and showing them all that the Marvel Universe has to offer! Designed to grab new readers and show appreciation for loyal fans and retailers, Comics Giveaway Day™ promises to the most exciting day for the industry and fans can look forward to FOUR Comics Giveaway Day™ issues from Marvel Comics!
Experience every corner of the main Marvel Universe with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026 and ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026 continues the countdown to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000; sets up the upcoming symbiote event, QUEEN IN BLACK; and teases what’s on the horizon for the monstrous INFERNAL HULK! ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026 will present a key chapter for Marvel’s 2026 summer event, ARMAGEDDON; deliver a prelude to the next X-Men milestone; and check in with Marvel’s First Family.
Then, enjoy Marvel’s acclaimed 20th Century Studios storytelling with stories set in some of the world’s most iconic sci-fi franchises with ALIEN, PREDATOR & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026. And for little ones, SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026 provides the best first comic book experience you can get with a Spidey & his Amazing Friends adventure guest starring Jeff the Land Shark and Symbie!
Read on to learn more!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000/QUEEN IN BLACK #1 CGD 2026
Written by JOE KELLY, AL EWING & PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by JOHN ROMITA JR., IBAN COELLO & NIC KLEIN
Cover by DIKE RUAN
On Sale 5/2
The road to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 takes a big turn here as fate bears down on Peter Parker! The Queen in Black has been coronated, and Mary Jane Watson as Venom is not ready for her! The Eldest has taken control of the Hulk, and what happens next will make every past Hulk battle look like a skirmish!
ARMAGEDDON/X-MEN #1 CGD 2026
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY, JED MACKAY & RYAN NORTH
ART by FEDERICO VICENTINI & MORE
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
Available 5/2
The heroes of the Marvel Universe assemble to take on the Red Hulk in a critical story by Chip Zdarsky that sets the stage for this summer’s Marvel event…ARMAGEDDON! Armageddon is here, and no one is safe from the coming end.
PLUS: Your first look at this summer’s big X-MEN event…and DOOM!
ALIEN, PREDATOR, & PLANET OF THE APES #1 CGD 2026
Written by SALADIN AHMED, JORDAN MORRIS & MORE
Art by ROLAND BOSCHI AND MORE!
Cover by DAVIDE PARATORE
Available 5/2
In this issue, you’ll find stories from across 20th Century Studios – from ALIEN to PREDATOR to PLANET OF THE APES! Saladin Ahmed presents a tale set on a planet that’s already succumbed to Xenomorphs! And in Jordan Morris’ story, a Yautja warrior stalks one of Earth’s greatest fighters.
All this and a return to the Planet of the Apes!
SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1 CGD 2026
Written by DANIELLE KREGER
Art by GOODMAN YAMADA
Cover by PACO MEDINA
Available 5/2
SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, Spin and Ghost-Spider, think they have their web-shooting hands full when JEFF THE LAND SHARK pays them a visit! But they haven’t seen anything yet – because shapeshifting alien SYMBIE is here to turn Jeff’s world upside down!
Stay tuned for more news about COMICS GIVEAWAY DAY™ and inquire at your local comic shop regarding availability! For more information, visit Marvel.com.
Replies
Wasn't Mary Jane going by "Jackpot", at one point? Did that perish from lack of interest?
She did, around the Brand New Day era, I think. I'm not sure how that resolved, but it obviously ran its course after a while.
I'm not reading Spider-Man, so I don't know. Maybe another Legionnaire knows. But I remember the covers where she was teamed up with Black Cat. Now she has a symbiote. I don't know what happened in between.
Moreover, I don't care. MY Peter Parker doesn't make deals with the devil. MY Mary Jane is an actress and dancer, not a superhero or whatever the symbiotes are. And MY Peter Parker and Mary Jane are married, or at least a romantic couple. I don't know who any of these imposters are.
I have this memory that it was eventually revealed that "Jackpot" was not, in fact, Mary Jane Watson (as everyone had been led to believe), but I don't really care all that much, either.
The first Jackpot was not Mary Jane, but another redhead that looked like her. There was a second Jackpot as well. Mary Jane became the third around the time when she became involved with Paul.
A couple of years ago there was an event running right at the heels of "Blood Hunt" - I think it was named "Venom War" - which threw the symbiote pieces to the ceiling and let them fall into new places. That is how Eddie Brock became the current Carnage, and how the original Venom symbiote ended up bonded with Mary Jane in a situation of mutual need (they can't survive unless they are connected). The Jackpot powers factored into that change, and presumably she can still use them if she wants to.
That was the most interest I have had in marvel symbiotes ever. Not a very high bar, mind you, and it has already waned.
Obrigado, Luis. As we like to say around here, thanks for reading so we didn't have to!
I hear you.
Apparently it has become almost a duty for Marvel to publish stories where the best known symbiote hosts acquire cosmic significance in some form (and new names to go along with it).
I'm sure there is a market niche willing to read that. Contrary to my expectations, it is apparently not called "Bob".